A racehorse knows nothing of revenge or redemption, nor how to glow with pride in a job well done, so while Authorized walked quietly around the winners' enclosure after the Juddmonte International Stakes here yesterday, Frankie Dettori glowed for him.

"I'm pleased for him more than for myself," Dettori said. "I've ridden in great races all my life, but I just wanted the horse to prove to the world that it wasn't just a fluke in the Derby, and that he is a worthy champion."

A little over a month ago, Dettori had slipped away from Sandown Park knowing - or at least suspecting - that his tactics in the Eclipse Stakes had cost Authorized victory. Ryan Moore stole the glory that day with a brave, lonely run up the stands' rail on Notnowcato, and suddenly the merit of Authorized's five-length win in the Derby was called into question.

Yesterday, though, the doubts melted away as Authorized galloped powerfully for just over a mile and then kicked clear of Dylan Thomas, the King George winner, with a furlong to run. Dylan Thomas was not ideally positioned as the race reached its climax, and Johnny Murtagh, his jockey, was forced to let Dettori have first run, but he still had a length to find at the line and it was a fair measure of the winner's superiority. Notnowcato was another three lengths back in third place, which seemed to confirm that the Eclipse was decided by jockeys, not horses.

"Ryan Moore outfoxed me in the Eclipse," Dettori said. "It was the one that got away, but today there was nowhere to hide and we put the record straight.

"Between the three and the one-and-a-half, the further he was travelling, the more I was struggling to hold him. When I saw Dylan Thomas angling out, I kicked and got three lengths and the race was over. He has a tremendous cruising speed, that's what separates the normal champion from the great champion."

Authorized is versatile too, and this Group One victory over 10 furlongs will be a particular delight for Sheikh Mohammed, who will stand him at stud next year. Before that, Authorized will have what may well be his last race, in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, when Dylan Thomas and Manduro, another recent purchase by the Sheikh, are likely opponents.

"I can't wait for that, he's got every tick in the box for the Arc," Dettori said. "He stays, he loves soft ground, he's got a tremendous cruising speed and a good kick."

Totesport's offer of 5-2 is the best price against Authorized for the Arc with a major layer, and Peter Chapple-Hyam, his trainer, seems inclined to send him straight to Paris without another race.

Murtagh's passage on Dylan Thomas was strikingly similar to his ride on Yellowstone in the preceding race, though while Jimmy Fortune, on Lucarno, did well to keep him in, it was also hard to argue that the result was seriously affected.

A length was again the margin of victory as Lucarno stayed on well through the final furlong, and he shortened rapidly in the betting for next month's St Leger at Doncaster, although John Gosden, his trainer, is not certain he will run.

"We'd freshened him up specifically for this and he's done it beautifully," Gosden said. "The Leger could be the way to go though I'll have to discuss it with George Strawbridge, his owner. He's got the speed to win over a mile and a quarter, but the Leger is a massive race and the track would suit. We just have to debate whether to send him over an extended mile and six."

In all, Murtagh rode four runners-up, including Lucifer Sam, who was no match for Fast Company in the Acomb Stakes, a race that may well prove to be one of the best Group Three events of the season.

"I've never seen a two-year-old win a Group Three like that without even a flick of the whip," Fiona Shaw, European racing manager for Earle Mack, Fast Company's owner, said. "He is a serious horse. We will have to decide now whether to go for the Dewhurst or the Champagne Stakes."

Murtagh's day was not a complete disappointment as he steered Septimus to a comfortable win in the Lonsdale Cup. The Irish St Leger and the Melbourne Cup are possible targets for the colt.